Follow-up of children and adolescents in residential care in children's homes

The present study reports changes in the behaviour and emotional symptoms o f 53 children placed in children's home care during a 2.5-year follow-up pe riod, using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) filled out by the staff me mbers. Almost three-quarters of the children and adolescents in care showed impairment in the CBCL total scores during the period. Externalizing sympt oms such as aggressivity, delinquency, and attention problems were signific antly increased during the period. Twenty-five per cent of the children det eriorated from normal range to clinical range. Placement under the age of 7 years and a history of individual psychotherapy were related to a better p rognosis for changes in CBCL mean scores. The present study suggests that m any children with long-term placements in children's homes are in need of s pecially planned treatment for psychologic and social problems.